Inspiration Series – Chef Kristi Brown

[Foreword: I shared this on my personal social media in light of an event I was attending yesterday, but it sparked a serious fire of reflection on my current growth and those who got me here. I’ve decided to share it here so that I can also share the continuing thoughts that I shared today, and I will expand this into a series of posts highlighting some of the others who have made me the person I am today.]

Many years ago, I happened upon a lovely woman slinging her black eyed pea hummus at a farmer’s market when we lived in the CD. We chatted about road trips through the region and connected on social media. I had no idea that I had just met one of the strongest and most influential women I will ever come across in my life.

We moved out of the city and I lost my access to her incredible hummus , but I saw she was doing big things. She was building up her catering business, and also putting her influence and energy into building up other Black owned businesses in Seattle. She was feeding high end corporate customers, and feeding her community. When the pandemic hit right as she was opening her restaurant, she continued to invest in her community, and took a lot of really courageous leaps of faith that her business would be lifted as a result.

Tonight, I finally get to experience firsthand the wonderful food of Kristi Chef Brown (and get that hummus fix that I’ve been craving for so many years) again, as a guest of Field to Table. This event features notable Seattle area chefs in a catered fine dining experience on Lumen Field to benefit Big Table, an organisation which helps hospitality workers in need. Soon, I hope to experience her restaurant Communion Seattle, which makes me drool every time I read the menu, but tonight is even more amazing to me, to see her recognised as one of the top chefs in our area, and to be able to experience the signature menu she has crafted for this special event.

To Chef Kristi – I know I’m one of so many people watching and cheering from the sidelines, but please know just how much you inspire me. I have watched you build your little cottage industry into not an empire, but a strong community, building together with others, rather than on the backs of others. You have shown me that we are stronger together, and that if you give first to your community, your community will lift you up in return. I recognise the extreme privilege it is that I can experience this event, and I am overjoyed to be able to witness this recognition of your immensely hard work over the years. I can’t wait to see what you do next!!